• Friday, November 13, 2009

• Country:

  USA

• Language:

  English

• Runtime:

  105 min

2009

With three months left in the service, Will (Ben Foster) has spent a good deal of time in army hospitals, healing scars from his time in Iraq. To make things worse, the girl he left behind (Jena Malone) has moved on with her life. Ironically, his chance at a fresh start lies in working shoulder to shoulder with Tony (Woody Harrelson), a senior officer who teaches him the messenger ropes of his new post with the Casualty Notification Office.

Will, who narrowly escaped death, must now break the news about those who didn’t. Between assignments, these two soldiers form a unique bond that helps them in their struggle to get back to "normal" life, fully knowing nothing will ever really be normal again.

Proving himself a cinematic craftsman, director Oren Moverman deliberately hasn’t made a political film. The Messenger isn't even about the military at its core; it's about people choosing to live life and finding the light and humor at the end of the tunnel.

Harrelson and Foster infuse these complex characters with the necessary pathos to raise their story to a new level of compassion. Foster adds yet another layer when Will faces an ethical dilemma because he is the messenger drawn to one of the young widows, played by Samantha Morton. She rounds out this powerhouse cast in a moving and elegant film that is an elegy of our time.

Trivias

• Sgt. Brian Scott, who was training to deploy to Iraq at Ft. Dix in New Jersey and was a technical advisor in this film, was subsequently injured in an IED attack in Baghdad.

Awards

1. Silver Berlin Bear
   Event: Berlin International Film Festival
   Result: Won
   Category: Best Screenplay
   Recipient(s): Alessandro Camon
2. Peace Film Award
   Event: Berlin International Film Festival
   Result: Won
   Category:
   Recipient(s): Oren Moverman
3. Grand Special Prize
   Event: Deauville Film Festival
   Result: Won
   Category: Best Film
   Recipient(s): Oren Moverman
4. Critics Award
   Event: Deauville Film Festival
   Result: Won
   Category: Best Film
   Recipient(s): Oren Moverman
5. Breakthrough Award
   Event: Gotham Awards
   Result: Nominated
   Category:
   Recipient(s): Ben Foster